third reich

This is the classic 30-round Luftwaffe pouch of WW2 in brown leather with a pebbled finish and aluminium fittings. These were developed from the cavalry ammo pouch of WW1, model 1911. It is marked 'Wien' for Vienna, but the date and maker's mark are hard to read with the pebbled finish.

This is the classic 30-round Luftwaffe pouch of WW2 in brown leather with a pebbled finish and aluminium fittings. These were developed from the cavalry ammo pouch of WW1, model 1911. It is marked 'Carl Ackva // Lederfabrik // Bad Kreuznach'.

This fine flag (1.7m long) was made by Hannoversche Fahnenfabrik. It is the standard war flag, with navy markings, flown on all small ships of the German navy in WW2. In particular, this size was used as a commissioning flag for U-boats, viz early photos showing this.

These are the standard Wehrmacht issue from 1933 on, replacing the 1909 type which carried 60 rounds as opposed to 30 in the later model. In this case, one is a Berlin product, the other being made in Vienna - a regular 'anschluss'! Although they are not strictly a pair, they have obviously been together for some time.

This is the standard German leather harness for supporting ammunition pouches carried either side of the belt buckle on the leather waistbelt worn by all members of the armed forces, other ranks at any rate, including naval and Luftwaffe units in ground roles. There is a faint but legible RB number stamped on one of the forward leather straps.

Marked: 'Frostschutsssalbe // Wehrkreissanitarspack VI // Osnabruck // SS-Packung', also with 'Leere Tuben sammeln' ('collect the empty tubes' - the original recyclers!), this stuff was used to protect the lips and nose from the cold and possibly, in extreme conditions, the feet and hands. It would have been most useful on the Russian Front.

This particularly fine pair was made by Busch of Rathenow (East Prussia). The case is made by Hensoldt of Wetzlar and is marked with the Weimar Army acceptance eagle. The lenses are almost as they left the factory and the resulting vision extremely sharp. There is a 1944 date on the steel snap of the case, together with a code 'crn'.